Austrian Travel Data
(for "The Slow side of the Danube")

Where to get additional information

Austria (general)

For additional information on the Wachau region on the north shore of the Danube, contact

Austrian National Tourist Office (click to connect to Web site)
P.O. Box 1142
New York, NY 10108

or

Austrian National Tourist Office
500 Fifth Ave., Suite 2009
New York, NY 10110

(212) 944-6880

Austrian National Tourist Office
11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2480
Los Angeles, CA 90025

(310) 477-3332

Austrian National Tourist Office
500 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1950
Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 644-8092

The Austrian National Tourist Office can also provide some information on rail travel in Austria and the Austrian Federal Railways.

Rail Travel

Railroads are an important part of Austria's transportation infrastructure. Austria, about the size of the U.S. state of Maine, contains some 3,500 route-miles of track -- with most still served by passenger trains. (That's more than enough track to stretch diagonally across the continental U.S. from Seattle to Miami.)

For general information on rail travel in Europe, including currently available rail passes, contact

Rail Europe (click to connect to Web site)
230 Westchester Ave.
White Plains, NY 10604

(800) 4-EURAIL

(Rail Europe is a marketing subsidiary of the French National Railways, which also represents other European railroad administrations in North America.)

Information on rail travel in Europe is also available from

Forsyth Travel Library (click to connect to Web site)
9154 W. 57th St.
Shawnee Mission, KS 66201-9968

1-800-FORSYSTH (1-800-367-7984) or

(913) 384-3440

(This company specializes in selling European rail passes, a wide range of travel literature [guidebooks, maps, etc.], and travel accessories.)

Keep in mind that brochures available from these organizations (and your local travel agents) emphasize connections between major cities -- and that most maps contained in them depict highly-simplified versions of route systems.

Rick Steves: Europe through the back door (click to connect to Web site)

Rick Steves, best known for his European travel programs shown on PBS stations, also offers extensive rail travel information and European rail passes through his own Web site.

Steam Trains

Information on special steam excursion trains in Austria is available from larger stations. Ask about or look for posters advertising "Nostalgie" or "Dampf" trains. Or, mention your interest in this subject when inquiring with the Austrian National Tourist Office.

Schedule Information

If you travel on secondary lines in Austria, a copy of the comprehensive Austrian rail schedule book is a good investment. It's about the size of a paperback novel and contains about 1,000 pages of thin paper.

Schedules are easy to decipher, even if you do not read German. The introductory material includes a section in English which also explains symbols used in timetables. A fold-out map shows route numbers. Schedules are arranged by route number.

The book is available at ticket counters at most rail stations in Austria. Ask for the "Inland Kursbuch." An appendix even includes schedules for the Danube steamers.

You'll have to purchase this book (about $9) after you get to Austria; it is not available in the U.S.

The Austrian Federal Railways (Österreichische Bundesbahnen or ÖBB) have an excellent schedule inquiry Web site. You can find connections and complete schedules for various routes by clicking on the above link.

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